Want to know what is happening in music class? You have come to the right place. I plan to post regarding the skills we are focusing on in each grade level. We will start with one grade level a week and see how it goes.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

It has been a fifteen year (or more) tradition here at Scott elementary for the teachers to give white elephant gifts at the annual holiday staff party. One special gift has been a big part of the annual tradition - the "Christmas Iguana." I was honored to receive this special present and wanted everyone to know how proud I am to share this honor in the tradition of many teachers before me and have displayed the Iguana for all to see. It is very fun to work at Scott Elementary!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

All students in Kindergarten through third grade have begun using learning centers. The centers are listed below:

Groovy Shapes - Create music and explore instrument sounds on the computer

Coloring (Kindergarten and 1st Grade)

Music Note Worksheet (2nd and 3rd Grades)

Lego's - Students may create anything as long as it is a pattern

Music Ace - Learn the basics of music theory through a fun computer game

Reading - Students may look at any of over 30 books that are illustrated songs or stories about instruments and composers

Keyboard - Experience high and low sounds and a wide variety of accompaniments while exploring in our piano keyboard center.

ABC Cards - Practice the ABC's of music through simple games (K and 1st)

Drums - Work as a team to read and play using rhythm cards (2nd and 3rd)

The students go to each center with their team of three or four and will rotate to a different station each time they come to class, so that they can experience each concept with their team. After everyone has experienced the center, the centers will be expanded or changed so that there is always something new to learn or explore.

Ask your young musician which stations they have done in class and share what they have learned. We can always use feedback to help us improve our centers and to make this time the best learning experience possible.

Monday, November 10, 2008

It's been a while. I am not living up to my once a week goal and am trying to catch up a little. There are lots of things going on...Fourth Grade, Ms. Zismer and Mr. Broadway's classes are gearing up for their show next week. All other classes are focusing on teamwork to prepare them to work at learning centers. More on that next time.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

We are continuing to prepare for our performance in November. We have completed auditions for speaking parts, soloists and dancers. We will be working on pantomimes this week and then will really start putting everything together.

Be thinking about what to wear. Students are asked to dress like whatever occupation they would like to do when they grow up. Hope to see everyone at the Forum at 7pm on November 20!!!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

In Kindergarten we have a basic routine that we follow for every music class. We come in, get carpet squares and settle into our spots. Once everyone is settled we do our song of the month and a silly song or two to get the wiggles out.

Once the wiggles seem to be out we have story time. Story time consists of a song that has been made into a book. We have already had nine classes and have done everything from "The Star-Spangled Banner" to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

We then go into working with A-B-C cards to improve our skills with manipulating the musical alphabet. Ask your student about the games fat snake, pick-a-card, and fine (pronounced fih-neh).

Finally, to support the regular classroom, we "Rock Around the Alphabet" and sing songs that emphasize whatever letter they are studying that week in class. Overall, the goal in Kindergarten is to get the basics for literacy through music the letters A-H and marching, playing instruments, counting and anything else we can do to solidify a steady beat.

Tune in at the end of October for information about upcoming music learning centers for Kindergarten.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

First grade students have been working on keeping a steady beat and high and low sounds. We used the nursery rhyme "Hickory Dickory Dock" last week to keep a steady beat, use our high and low voice and play glissandos on the xylophones. We had three parts going at the same time and students were really excited. We also sing a new story every week to promote fun songs and literacy. Last week's book was "Do Your Ears Hang Low?"

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Friday was international "Talk Like a Pirate Day." In honor of this day, we sang the "Talk Like a Pirate Day Song" in all of the K-3 classes last week. Some students asked for copies and I told them that if they follow the Music K-8 link, they can purchase the song for $.99 This is not something we offer to make money for Scott Elementary. It is just a fun option for students to have copies of songs that we do in class. Most of the songs from our November 20 performance can be found there as well as our "Whacky Birthday Song."

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Longview Art and World Music Festival will light up southern Jackson County October 3-5 with art, food, music, crafts, and activities for all ages. The Festival will be held in the New Longview area and at MCC-Longview, 3rd Street and View High Drive, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Come and enjoy a juried art fair; desserts; Greek, Latin, Jamaican, Americandishes; international music and dance performances; kids activities; international marketplace; Last Chance Tours of historic Longview Farm;and much, much more!

Visit lawmf.net for more information and a scheduleof events and attractions.More complete details are available in the attached article and eventflyer.We believe the experiences the festival offers are wonderful ways toenrich children's and adults' knowledge of the art, music, food, andculture around them.We look forward to seeing you and your students there!

I received this information today and think it would be a wonderful event for the family. It is a good way to enjoy and learn about a wide variety of music and cultural traditions.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Second Grade students are working on rhythms and notes to help them with the basics of reading and writing music. By the end of September they should be able to to read and write three pitches and three types of notes. We are playing games, working together and singing songs that help us improve these skills.

Monday, September 8, 2008

I forgot to mention that the third graders in Ms. Zismer's class will be performing at the November 20 performance. I am so used to including them with the fourth graders in the class. I apologize for any confusion this might have caused.

To sum up...3rd and 4th grade students in Ms. Zismer's, Ms. Griffith's, Ms. Helfrich's, and Mr. Broadway's classes will all participate in the November 20th performance at the high school forum.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Every class has been working on "The Star Spangled Banner" since the beginning of school. This is our song of the month for September (and a little bit of August). We also sing the "Whacky Birthday Song" each month to honor those having a birthday. These Scott traditions were started by Ms. Cook and I chose to continue the tradition with her permission. The students seem to enjoy having the familiarity and were very helpful at teaching me the motions to the "Whacky Birthday Song." These songs can be downloaded from the music K8 kids website for $.99 in an mp3 format for anyone interested in a copy.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Mr. Broadway's Class and the fourth grade classes are working hard to get ready for their big performance at the High School Forum at 7 pm on November 20. Notes went home on Friday and are due back September 5 (this Friday). Students are starting to think about what they want to be when they grow up and are supposed to find an outfit to wear that goes with this dream. I am looking forward to see a wide variety of "professionals" at our performance.

Thank you so much for checking out the new music website for Scott Elementary. I hope the links will help students enhance their music skills and that parents will stop by regularly to keep up on the latest things we have been working on in music class.